Castlecomer Discovery Park - Welcome

Welcome to the Castlecomer Discovery Park, 30 hectares of mixed woodland in the south-east of Ireland just 20kms North of the medieval city of Kilkenny and 24kms from Carlow town.

Originally part of the Demesne of the 17th Century Castlecomer House owned by the Prior Wandesforde family, the Park boasts an array of woodland pathways centred around two Rainbow Trout Fishing Lakes connected by cascades; an array of wooden sculptures; picnic areas; a children’s adventure playground and a wonderful design craft

The Castlecomer Plateau was a very important coal mining location from the 17th century until the closure of the mines in 1969, yielding important deposits of high quality anthracite. It was also the source of an important scientific discovery in 1865, when fossils of early amphibians were found by the miners. These aspects of the history and prehistory of the Castlecomer area are the focus of our interactive multimedia exhibition ‘Footprints in Coal’.

The visitor centre also plays host to a delightful giftshop and the superb Café Jarrow. Open all year round the Discovery Park is an ideal location for a family day out, or for bus tours, school groups or individuals.